Tulipa Sylvestris

The Beauty of Tulipa Sylvestris

While all tulips are stunning, the Tulipa Sylvestris is a magnificent species. This perennial grows best in zones 5 through 9 and when in bloom during the spring months, the flowers are a gorgeous yellow. Tulips in general prefer sun and partial shade, as well as good soil. You can plant tulips from seeds or from a starting plant, whichever you prefer.

One of the benefits of the Tulipa Sylvestris is not only is the bloom beautiful but it is also fragrant. This particular plant is hardy and reaches heights of 18 inches. Because of this, it makes a great addition to any garden or flowerbed, as a filler, borders, or standalone displays. However, the unique closed bud form is what makes this species so different from other tulips.

While the official name of this tulip is Tulipa Sylvestris, it is more commonly called the Woodland Tulip or “Wild Tulip”. This variety was introduced to the public in 1957 by happenstance. This plant was found growing in a monastery vineyard, actually entangled to vines that had been imported by monks. However, it was not long before this flower became popular throughout the United Kingdom and even today, it grows naturally throughout the countryside and along the riverbanks.

The petals of the Tulipa Sylvestris are dainty and tinged slightly with green. The leaves grow wide apart and are very dark in color, which creates a unique contrast that gardeners love. Sadly, this particular variety of tulip is only grown in 50 different locations within the United Kingdom, which means growing in the wild is beginning to decline. However, many people are trying to grow this tulip species to keep it from disappearing altogether. After all, it makes a great addition outside, but also inside as a centerpiece on the dining room table.

The problem with the Tulipa Sylvestris is that finding plants is tough. Often, you can look for sellers online and then choose bulbs, which are easy to plant. During the first year, you could expect magnificent blooms but over the following years, flowering is not as predictable. When looking for this variety, be sure you focus on nurseries and plant growers in the UK in that you would likely have better luck.

Because tulips are so easy to grow from bulbs, beginner gardeners should consider this or other varieties. The bulbs go in the ground in the fall and typically bloom great for two to three years. In some cases, tulips will continue to grow and bloom but if you find your flowers no longer growing or flowering, you might need to dig up the bulbs and plant fresh ones. However, with the Tulipa Sylvestris being such a hardy choice, you may not experience this type of problem.

The key is to buy healthy, large bulbs in that they do best. For a unique look, you might consider planting several tulip species, which would result in plants of different sizes, colors, and shapes. Mixing varieties is common practice especially for the tulip and for weeks, you would have a garden the envy of every neighbor. However, you can also grow only the Tulipa Sylvestris, which would also be stunning.